Hello, friends. It's been a while (years) since I last published here. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic. I've long held a sweet spot for the Hermione/ Severus pairing and Alan Rickman's passing this week inspired me to get writing. I won't say this is a tribute to him (I'm not sure how comfortable he would be with that). As an actor he brought a character to life. It would be a great injustice to let Severus Snape die with him. That character lives on in our minds, in our hearts, and in our words.
RIP Alan Rickman.
"Occlumency?"
"I feel it would be both prudent and wise, Miss Granger," Dumbledore peered over his half-moon spectacles at her, the small familiar smile in place.
"With all due respect, Headmaster, do you not think it best that Harry receive the training? He's the primary target obviously and I daresay he would be much better at it than myself. I'm much more comfortable with a wand and a cauldron. I'm not even sure how I would go about-" Hermionie became aware that Dumbledore had raised his hand, she'd been rambling.
"I am seeing to it that Potter become proficient at Occlumency also. However, being one of his two closest friends and allies, I'm afraid you are a target as much as he is." Dumbledore's tea stirred itself in front of him.
"I see, Sir." Hermione's mind was a cluttered, dangerous place. She could barely navigate it on her own, much less prevent someone else from entering it.
Dumbledore clapped his hands together with a smile and the teaspoon fell against the side of the cup. He seemed to be happy she'd agreed, as if she'd actually had a choice in the matter. "Wonderful, I will inform Professor Snape and you can organise regular lessons at your leisure."
"Snape, Sir?" Hermione tried not to let her face betray her inner panic.
"Why, yes. Snape is one of the most refined Occlumens in the wizarding world. I can think of no one better," he began sipping his tea.
"Of course, Sir." She stood awkwardly for a few seconds, unsure of whether to ask Dumbledore for anyone, literally anyone else who could teach her instead.
"That'll be all Miss Granger."
"Yes, Sir." She turned and hurried quietly from the room, ensuring the door was properly closed behind her before she let out a groan.
"Shit."
Potions seemed to crawl at an even more glacial pace than usual. She kept her head down, either in her book or in her cauldron. They were making the Elixir of Euphoria.
Shrivelfig, porcupine quills, now what? She traced her finger down the page; stir four times anti-clockwise.
She became aware of the Potion Master's presence at her back and she tried to keep a steady hand, failing miserably. A slight shake sent the ladle clanging into the side of the cauldron and earned her a hiss in her ear.
"Not so careless, Miss Granger. This is a potion for euphoria and all I have is despair. No, no, wrong. Oh for God's sake, like this."
He placed his hand over hers and guided it around the cauldron, she was blisteringly aware of his skin on hers. She could feel the callouses on his palms that years of stirring had earned him. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and coursing over hers.
"Long, smooth strokes," he said quietly in her ear.
Oh, dear Gods. She quivered internally.
"I expect more of you, Granger. I won't help you again," She felt a stab of disappointment as Snape released hold of her hand and moved forward to Neville whose potion was a vibrant shade of green, a stark contrast to the dull orange sitting in everyone else's cauldrons.
She let her eyes linger on him as he leant over the boy in front of her. Hermione stroked his features from his dark hair which hung above his broad, strong shoulders. The rest was disappointingly lost under his billowing cloak, but her mind filled in the other details.
The remainder of the lesson passed relatively uneventfully. Hermione did her best to avoid looking at the Professor as she always had to; it skewed her focus.
Snape had always held an appeal to her, even when she first stumbled into the castle as a first year. She could hardly blame herself, being surrounded by hormonal bumbling idiots who wouldn't know what to do with a woman if she was naked in their bed. As long as she had fostered an attraction for the dark, brooding potions master who carried a lifetime of knowledge on muscular shoulders, she had denied herself thinking of the pairing as a serious possibility. It wasn't, of course.
Even if she weren't his student, he had made it clear that he could barely tolerate her as a human being, let alone as a lover. She could picture him with an equally dark, lank-haired brunette with leather pants and a midriff top which showed off ample cleavage. A woman who knew who she was and what she wanted, not a bushy-haired little know-it-all.
"Now that most of you have your bottled draughts of Euphoria," Snape cast an eye over Neville who was still stirring feverishly, "you may take it when you wish. As you would expect, you will experience sudden euphoria. Do not take it somewhere it is not appropriate to sing or tweak your nose. Class dismissed, except for you, Granger."
Hermione idled at her desk, taking her time as she packed her things while the others filed out around her.
"Give up, Longbottom," Snape waved his wand at the boy who was still determinedly stirring, vanishing the odd muck which had condensed in his cauldron.
Hermione felt a pang of sympathy for Neville as he hung his head to hide his flushed cheeks. "I'll go over it with you later, if you like," she said to him as he shuffled out past her. He nodded and gave a small smile in thanks.
"Not your best work today, Granger. Although you got there in the end," he lent back in his desk chair, clasping his hands over his stomach. She willed her eyes not to wander from his face. "Are you sure you are ready for Occlumency?"
"With all dear respect, Professor, this was not my decision but Dumbledore's. If you don't feel I'm capable please tell him yourself, God knows I tried.." She trailed off under his intense gaze.
"That is incredibly reassuring, Granger," his voice dripped with sarcasm. "Once Dumbledore has decided on something it's impossible to sway him so I won't bother."
She was already feeling humiliated. He really did think she was inadequate, not something she was used to anyone thinking of her. He must have noticed her gazing at the floor because he followed up a little more softly, "I didn't say I thought you weren't capable. But Occulemcy and Legilimency require utmost control and willpower. Should your focus slip, there is little I can do to help you. Do you understand, Granger?"
She nodded, darting her tongue out to moisten her dry lips.
"Good. What do you know about Legilimency?"
"Well," Hermione began, "It's the art of navigating through the layers of a person's mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. A person who practices this is known as a Legilimens. They can be fought by one who practices Occlumency, one who shield their mind from the invasion of a Legilimens."
Snape nodded, "So, in other words, you know nothing."
Her mouth dropped open slightly, brow furrowed as she fought to contain her surprise which turned quickly into anger. "I have read-"
"Yes, you have read but you do not know," he interrupted her. "You have never felt someone move inside you so I will."
Why did he have to say it like that? Now she was flustered again. Oh God, she realised what he meant. He was going to penetrate her mind. She fought back all thoughts and feelings and buried them in the depths of her brain, where she knew perfectly well he would find them if he delved deep enough.
"Are you ready, Granger?"
Steeling herself, she nodded. Suddenly she was in first year, rowing across the lake in boats guided by lanterns and Hagrid's booming voice trying to reassure the nervous horde. She was at home with her parents watching Wheel of Fortune with her mother laughing at one of her father's bad jokes. She was in the Great Hall, having this morning's breakfast again, while Harry and Ron beguiled being rained out on the Quidditch Pitch. She was in potions, Snape's hands clutching hers as they stirred together… No!
With every bit of mental strength, she swung her mind shut like an iron door. No, he couldn't go any further. She wouldn't let him.
He rocked back in his chair with surprise, "Well, well, what was that Granger? You say you haven't practiced Occlumens yet you kicked me out. And why did you kick me out? Are you hiding something, Granger? Cheated on a test perhaps? Or have you been complaining about me to your friends?"
She wasn't sure what to say. Her own strength had surprised her, so much so that her quick-thinking failed her. She simply shook her head, "I felt like I could remove you so I did."
He stared at her for several moments, intense gaze boring into her like he could read her soul. "We shall see, Granger. There will be very few things I don't know about you soon enough."
He stood and began tidying his desk, piling books and waved his wand absent-mindedly at the board which wiped itself clean. "Be back here again tomorrow night for your first official lesson. After dinner at 8 o'clock. Be punctual."
"Yes, sir," she mumbled, shuffling back to her desk to fetch her things, unknowingly under the keen gaze of the Potions Master.
If you have any feedback or suggestions please don't hesitate to throw them at me. It's good to have a bit of smut now and then.